Amazing Morning on the Bay

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Mid Bay
Location: Hacketts Point

Amazing morning out on the water, Satruday July 25th. The bay looked like glass. Had to deal with two knuckleheads that trolled and drifted through the 20 or so boats already anchored up at Hacketts Point to fish.

Again, looking for rockfish and chummed along the channel edge. Began with cut alewife for bait. Hooked into some big rays. Once I caught some spot I cut them up into strips and the rocks started to bite and the Rays stopped. The white perch were also in, hitting on bloodworms using a top/bottom rig. In the end I caught three undersized rockfish on the cut bait, all in the 15 to 17 inch range.

I didn't realize that rockfish were susceptible to being preyed upon by sea lampreys. You can see that one I caught had a really rough time with them. Had it been big enough to eat my buddy was adamant that you should not eat it. And said DNR had an advisory out about that. Is that true?

DNR Response: The Department of the Environment has available online a Fish Consumption Advisory - Guidelines for Recreationally Caught Fish Species in Maryland. Their guidelines for striped bass are: 1 serving of striped bass great than 28 inches a month. Also DNR recommends if the striped bass has open sores or lesions to throw it back.